Hi folks,
I'm replacing my chain and wire system after it broke last offshore trip in Australia. After pulling the old one out and using cord on the ends of the wires, so I could pull the new ones through, I'm still not clear where the wires should cross over, as the quadrant faces aft.
I've lifted the pedestal off and notice two holes at the bottom for the wires, so They could be crossed in the pedestal so long as they don't rub. My other alternative, after examining ever possibility is to not cross them int the pedestal but to feed them down parallel, then past the autopilot where another section of chain is located on the starboard wire, then up to a small sheath on a pivoting arm. Its angled so when I've run the wires over it and up to the quadrant, they don't touch.
In the diagram I've drawn, you can see where the wires are crossed in the pedestal, but if you look towards the aft end you'll see the "floating sheath", I'm talking about. That the other place I could cross them, if I only knew?
I estimate from the old wires, that this is where one of them broke, because the wires had been slack and rubbing for who knows how long. I bought the yacht and before sailing some 1500nm, checked and tightened them. I got 1000nm out of them before one snap in the middle of the night in a big blow down in Bass Strait!!!
If anyone can offer me some advice that would be greatly appreciated.